The Best & Most Interesting Loudspeakers @AXPONA 2024

Our own James Larson attending @AXPONA 2024 to check out the best, and sometimes most interesting, loudspeakers he could find. James spent some time listening and talking to the engineers behind the products. He even saw a ludicrously priced speaker system at $4 million dollars that did NOT impress. A full written show report will follow soon.

0:00 Introduction
2:22 Yamaha
5:25 Dayton Audio
8:25 Stratton Acoustics
10:05 Perlisten NEW Subs
11:35 Focal
13:35 $4M ESD Audio Dragon System
15:08 Legacy Audio
18:00 Acoustic Energy
19:13 HSU Research
21:05 RBH Sound
25:43 Creative Sound Solutions
26:55 Gauder Acoustics
28:11 Vivid Audio
29:45 Metaxas
31:40 Acora Acoustics

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• Focal Bathys by Dreamedia AV MSRP: $699
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[trevorparmer]

Steve, enjoyed getting to know you a bit, I was the Fidelity Imports rep in the Opera room. We really appreciate you visiting us and I’m pleased you enjoyed the sights and sounds.

[Jimsathome]

Thanks for the video Gents. Seems like ShadyJ was impressed by the new HSU Subs. Can't wait for the review!

[alexw]

Hsu played us some organ music with 16hz. It was awesome! They seem like great people. Very affordable stuff which he made a point of mentioning with the $300 amp. Glad you mentioned them!

[vassalhighend]

I'm actually stunned by his assessment of the Gauder speakers. I heard Sax, Male vocals, and Female vocals in that room. As a saxophone player, I was incredibly pleased by the level of realistic reproduction of a saxophone sound. In fact, I don't believe I heard anything better than that at the entire show in saxophone reproduction. Male and Female vocals were extremely revealing of every part of the voice. If there is a flaw in a recording, the Gauder room with Solution electronics was going to find it. Absolutely exceptional playback. As far as the ESD system goes, DUDE, they played some symphony orchestra stuff and it sounded like the trombone section was 10-12 feet away and playing wide open. That doesn't mean I'd drop 4 million on the system, but "wow" doesn't begin to describe the experience. And the folks walking out of the room with me were just as amazed as I was. After a full day of working my way down from the 16th floor, I had two other demos to go hit, but I just decided to leave on the ESD system. It wasn't going to get any better than that.

[acousticenergyloudspeakers]

Thanks for taking the time out to visit us at the show. We look forward to any forthcoming reviews :-)

[kl]

Listened to the Yamaha 800A at the Montreal Audiofest and I thought they were the best bang for the buck.

[ashikhan]

I ran into James on Sunday at Axopna, we were both walking out and I and the pleasure of picking his brain on some subs. I did not get to say it was very nice to meet you, and to be honest I was a little starstruck!! hahaha Anyway it was nice to meet you James.

[BobbyBass-xi]

Gene and James thanks for the video and info on the speakers. Looking to James’ upcoming reviews of some of these. Rock on!

[PlaybackMansion]

I really appreciate the honest takes on all these rooms

[mattvaught]

I’d love to see the review of the Legacy Audio Goliath!

[iamamadman]

Thanks for the entertaining and interesting insight into the Axpona

[simoSLJ]

I think the MoFi SourcePoint 888 are the best sound-for-money at the show.

[WardoUSA]

Finally some cool content from the show.

[Boxkerp]

Aww man. I was at Axpona on Saturday. It would have been cool to run into James

[isaacsykes]

James needs to review the Legacy Audio Subs... Gene, hire the movers!!

[ianorigbo]

I got the audia flight three s. What an amp!

[marchuvfulz]

How big is the market for a $4m stereo?

[toddNothingClever]

Respect to HSU for making affordable products that give the average person so much value they can feel they are not missing out compared to much, much more expensive products. 💪

[edbrumbaugh]

Enjoyed the review, much appreciated. BTW, the focal pre-amp and mono blocks with their Utopias is $300K ... so a quick $548K for speakers and electronics ... nice if you have that kind of disposable income, good on you!! Enjoy your gear!!

[T]

I was there on Friday and got to hear both the Focal Kanta 2 and Sopra 2 and thought they both sounded great! The Kanta may be the sweet spot in the Focal lineup as both speakers sounded much more alike than different. I was also blown away by the Borresen C1. I’ve never heard a speaker that small sound so clean, detailed, and dynamic with plenty of low bass extension. Some others I enjoyed listening to were the Perlisten S7t, GoldenEar T66, Paradigm 100F (paired with a sub), and surprisingly, the Klipsch Cornwall IV. I did briefly listen to the PS Audio FR30s playing Eva Cassidy “Fields of Gold” and they sounded very transparent, detailed and dynamic. The room was full or I would have stayed for a few songs. Definitely way too much to see in only one day.